Category: Life in General

Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:

I love decorating seasonally, so Halloween came to join my autumn additions. Not that we celebrate here like they do in the states, and I was tired of too many childish bits and bobs. Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but I wanted a more adult look. I achieved this somewhat this year by adding ravens to what I already had out, and hope to do this even better next time.

Despite some continuing additional pain following on from my last acupuncture treatment, we went for a lovely walk visiting an area in North Devon we’ve never been to before: the Lorna Doone valley, the area where R.D. Blackmore based the novel. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, we followed the satnav. As always happens, none of the landscape looked like anything I’d followed on Google, though made for amazing views. Once we arrived, we had a fabulous riverside walk through the fields with some neighbourhood sheep on what turned into a lovely summer’s day. At the end of our trek, we joined a horde of bikers who had turned up (bad timing on our part for the return|) queuing up for the proverbial ‘slice of cake’. We chose the unusual banana and blueberry, which proved to be unusual, but tasty.

Unfortunately, this was also the weekend that something went wrong with one of my eyes, and working one eyed has been difficult and tiring, plus there’s all the stress of hospital appointments but more on that another time.

FILM/TV:

In tune with the season, we watched Color Out of Space on Prime starring Nicholas Cage and Joely Richardson, based on The Color Out of Space by H.P.Lovecraft. Found it much more watchable than I expected, but you’ve got to like horror films such as The Thing, though it’s not on a par with that by any means. You can’t help feeling if the events ever happened for real, the entire world wouldn’t stand a chance. Not for anyone who can’t stand animals being injured, but if you know The Thing, you’ll know the sort of harm I’m talking about.

We often watch one or two favourite horror films at this time, but tiring of them, we thought we’d change things up a bit by opting for Arsenic and Old Lace. I’m no doubt showing my age, but this black and white film starring Cary Grant still amuses today, and this farce is so well worked out.

WRITING:

Unfortunately, this year, every time I set myself up to write, something seems to come along to bring things to a halt. This time, it’s a medical emergency that’s messed with my sight. I might write a little but I’m concentrating on getting my bad eye back to normal from now until the end of the year, because almost nothing can be more important than that.

Stay happy and healthy!

Sharon x

Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:
Ouch! One car ‘passed’ its MOT. Bill: £54.85 MOT, £19.98 for new windscreen wipers, £27.50 labour plus £9.50 VAT. Told Hubby he’s in wrong business if they can charge £27.50 to change wipers. Told him to make sure he checks his wipers next time before it goes in (he usually does), as could have done that himself, and saved over £30. Not the best month for bills with two car bills and the cost of a laptop battery.

Alas, my health issues were ticking along not fine but steady, and then acupuncture made things worse for the first time. This could be because it was my first try of a five-week gap with a view to a longer increase. Still not perfect and took over a week to calm down, hence September’s news and book reviews are a little late. I can only hope this doesn’t happen after the current five-week interval, or we may need to rethink and try once a month again.

FILM/TV:
Out of all we’ve watched, I have to throw the spotlight on 3 Body Problem showing on Netflix. Based on a book, this show has to be one of the most absorbing and intelligent science-fiction shows I’ve seen in a long time. We started watching it mostly because of people who said they couldn’t understand it. I don’t pretend knowledge of all the scientific principles used, but I don’t believe it’s necessary. I still followed the story and got the basics enough not to become confused. Possibly, one reason (and I’ve found this with writing) is out of those who complain early on are sometimes the type of viewer/reader who prefers every detail spelled out. A British audience seems to be far more comfortable not to have all the questions answered at once. 3 Body Problem is such a programme, but the threads do come together over the episodes.

WRITING:
Some good news. I managed after too much time wasted to get a new laptop battery locally. Contacted a shop someone recommended (but I’d not come across despite all my online searching) on a Thursday, dropped my MacBook in on Friday, got a call saying all done early Sunday morning. No fuss. And a tremendous sigh of relief from me. Then pain delayed things (apologies, but I’m not one of those to find writing a distraction when in pain, more like the pain interrupts the flow of my thoughts), but I now feel up to writing again.
Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x

Hi Everyone!
AT HOME:
Went on our long awaited cruise break and I’d like to say all was plain sailing (excuse the dreadful pun), but seas were rougher than we’ve ever had in Norway, and we took a share of rain with us. I was also in some pain and the late seating at dinner no longer agrees with us. Still, we had some fun, enjoyed having no chores, including not having to cook, even though I quite enjoy cooking, and we learned a few things about what not to do on other trips.

On that note, I simply had to share an amazing view with you from the top of Nebba Mountain, Andalsnes. Apparently, (602m/1975ft high!

FILM/TV:
Not a lot because we’ve been away. Recently watched Barbie and have to say it’s brilliant. I thought one or two scenes went on too long, but the underlying messages are excellent and it really puts across all the contradictions of being a woman and the way society makes women (and to some extent men) feel.

WRITING:
I was all geared up to plough back into my WIP the moment I returned home, but I’ve run into a snag. While I will do some more writing, my MacBook needs a new battery. I have no option but to take it to the nearest ‘not-so-genius’ bar (in my experience), which is nowhere close to me, where, it appears, they send it away and it could take three weeks. I ask you, what writer can do without their laptop for three weeks? And I’m not someone who has everything everywhere. I can transfer some files to my ancient windows PC to get some writing done, but how I’ll do everything else is beyond me. I’ll keep you posted.

Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x

Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:
Enjoyed a lovely break in one of our favourite places: Tintagel. One of our main reasons to stop for a few days was to put flowers on a friend’s grave in St. Materiana’s Churchyard on what would have been his birthday, and to spend an afternoon with his wife, including going to lunch. Although I struggled somewhat, I still completed a walk to Rocky Valley, which included some amazing views of Bossiney Beach. I’ve been to both before, of course, but had not seen them from this viewpoint along the coast. I’ve been joking I’m officially old as I’ve now got myself a pair of walking/hiking sticks, but everyone of all ages was using them and some steps on the coast path can be so steep, it’s worse than trying to step onto a chair. Once I had one leg high enough, there was nothing left to push with. I’ve since looked up how to use them correctly and recommendations say they enable people to walk farther, save fatigue, and strain on many areas of the body. The ones I bought aren’t wonderful, but if I get on well with them, I may invest in a better set. I could have used them at the beginning of the week rather than the end, but I’ve got them for next time.

I also finally spent my birthday money buying a few souvenirs. I was especially pleased to find two excellent panoramic prints, one of Tintagel and one of Boscastle, which weren’t too big, and make lovely keepsakes. Naturally, we enjoyed some lovely meals notably at Charlie’s, the Boscastle Farm Shop, and we at long last made it to Inkie’s Smokehouse at Golitha Falls. I probably shouldn’t mention it as it’s always been heaving (or closed) when we’ve tried to go, and the increased foot traffic, although bringing more visitors to the falls (free), has eroded the area. I also note that the toilets are still ‘under refurbishment’ but as that sign has been up for over a year, I have to question its authenticity. Only horrid Portaloos on site, I’m sorry to say.

FILM/TV:
At long last finished all 15 seasons of Supernatural, and I completely understand the fan base. It’s impressive that they kept the story flowing so long, increasing the trials and tribulations as one should do in a long running show. Although it leaves a viewer somewhat bereft when one stops after viewing for so long, I feel they stopped the story at the right point. No one can face a greater foe than… well, in case anyone hasn’t seen it, I won’t spoil anything; those who know will get my point.
Moved on to watching The Wheel of Time series, and think it’s a decent adaptation from the books. I read them so long ago, it’s hard for me to remember every detail, but the salient points are all there. It’s hard to please everyone with any book adaption and with something this epic, it’s impossible to include every point.

Also watched A Murder at the End of the World on Disney, which has kept me gripped even though I feel the protagonist is, at times, TSTL (too stupid to live). The ending was a surprise. Most of all, we’ve had a blast watching Fallout. I guess dystopian western sci-fi is the best way to describe it. Funny, entertaining, and yes, violent and a little gory in places, though that part maintains a somewhat cartoonish edge in that it’s fast and never quite believable. Mind, I don’t even find the violence in most horror films believable. People don’t continue to rise to their feet despite the odds, and would many times die of shock. I guess Fallout could also be called shocking for those who cannot believe what humanity is capable of. But the series isn’t what I expected, constantly moving, interconnecting the characters in surprising situations, with barely a pause. I also love the music they chose for the soundtrack.

We’re into the Tom Baker era of Doctor Who and I have to say, although I’ve liked many of the Doctors, and as much as I have a huge soft spot for Jon Pertwee, in part because he was my first Doctor, in part because he was so good in the role, Tom Baker takes the award for best original Doctor. His was the perfect balance between eccentricity and seriousness. I’m also surprised that as a child I didn’t realise how ahead of the time the female companions were. They were always strong-willed, independent women. Strange that the Beeb allowed these characters, though I won’t go into why I think so. Let’s say I heard they didn’t exactly practice what they preached, especially all those years ago. Even more recently women have had to, and still, campaign for equal pay. Admittedly, often these companions rushed somewhat foolishly right into danger, but at least they didn’t sit still, waiting to be rescued.

WRITING:
Following on from what I said last month, I have been writing, postponed for a week when away, but in the days allotted for writing, I’m pleased with my progress.
Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x

Wrote nothing on the blog the last couple of weeks, first because we were away on holiday. Second, because I take a week to physically recover from trips these days. I never imagined my life being ruled by an ailment, but then most of us don’t fixate on what might happen. It’s true that you can worry so much, you forget to live. To get some living, we had a break at one of our favourite places: Tintagel in Cornwall, where we enjoyed some marvellous sunsets. Not a terrible view.

We met up with our friend’s other half for lunch, and got some walks in, including the coast path from Tintagel to Rocky Valley, which offers some wonderful views not only of Rocky Valley itself, but of Bossiney Beach. I thoroughly recommended the trek.

Visiting Tintagel is bittersweet now because a dear friend lies buried in St Materiana’s churchyard. As we all have to lie somewhere, eventually, there are worse places. Our friend was evacuated to Tintagel as a child during the war, to live a long happy life there, finally to die in a well-loved home surrounded by beloved family, never to leave even in death. I guess none of us can hope for more. For me, it feels strange to say that somewhere that has always brought me peace, now also brings a little pain, but many loving memories soften the hurt.

I’m a writer who’s not been writing. That is to say, anything I’ve written in the last few months is for something that’s personal to me, not for publication, or maybe one day to show a few specific people.

Reasons I’ve not been writing are many, including having got out of the habit owing to the wrist break last year (good now but not perfect with some aches), but mostly because I’ve been more focused on exercise and health issues, which would be easier if I gave in and sat at home, but I refuse to be a shut-in at my age. I may avoid people at times (or certain people all the time), but I enjoy getting outdoors and going to new destinations. It’s taken a long time for my mindset to get around to ‘screw this’ even though I’m going to struggle. I see an acupuncturist as a last resort because the health service can’t do anything for me — the only available meds made me worse. I foolishly didn’t even realise I was dealing with a cronic pain issue, until my acupuncturist said, and then I felt like crying. But I choked it back and carried on, which is the way I’ve handled most things in life. Yes, sadly, life gets in the way sometimes, despite the best intentions.

As for the writing, I’ve got three projects in mind. Something for re-publication, a work in progress, and something new. I’ve started on the re-publication project to get used to writing again, and have proof-edited one chapter and come up with ideas to add to it. I’m not running a race but I’m now motivated to finish.

I’m pleased to share that we recently returned from a much-enjoyed weekend break in Fowey. Having had a thoroughly good time, I thought I’d share some photos along with a few details.

This harbour town nestles in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Cornwall on the west side of a deep estuary facing Polruan, with the Fowey River flowing out to the sea and Bodinnick further upstream. Fowey is perhaps most famous for being home to author Daphne du Maurier, who lived at the blue and white house known as Ferryside, near the Bodinnick Ferry. However, the town offers much more than quaint streets, modern and ancient houses, and boats bobbing on the blue estuary waters. A stay here isn’t complete without taking to the water at least once, whether for a short boat trip or a longer one.

The roads in Fowey can be narrow and steep, with limited parking. We opted for an Airbnb with parking provided for convenience. For those wanting to stay right on the estuary, there are a few options with parking, or you’ll need to leave your vehicle in a long-term public car park.

We enjoyed wandering around this delightful harbour town on our first evening, which allowed me to capture photos without many people around. The next day, we explored more, indulging in excellent food and walking to St. Catherine’s Castle and Readymoney Cove. Unfortunately, our visit to the small beach at the cove was marred by a strong stench, possibly because of nearby fertilising or a worse cause. However, I wouldn’t let this deter anyone from visiting, as there are plenty of other attractions, especially for walking enthusiasts.

One highlight of our trip was the well-known 4-mile Hall Walk, which involves two ferry rides. We started with the large transport ferry to Bodinnick, walked around to Pont Pill (small but pretty), and continued to Polruan. From there, we took the smaller passenger ferry boat back to Fowey, where we ravenously devoured delicious fish and chips at Havener’s restaurant. The walk, which offers some fine spots for photo opportunities, took us a leisurely 2.5 hours, although it can be completed in 2 hours or less depending on fitness and weather. Given the up-and-down nature of the paths and steps, wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended.

For food, as well as Havener’s, I can also recommend Bufala pizza, Organicafe (lunch and cake), Game of Cones (ice cream), and cakes and pasties from the Quay Bakery.

For those looking to explore further, nearby places of interest include Lanhydrock, The Eden Project, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. However, there’s plenty to do for a fulfilling weekend in Fowey alone.